NHL 2003 - XB - Review

Having been a fan of NHL
2K2 on the Dreamcast, there hasn’t been a hockey title that really held my
interest until NHL Hits 20-03. Yet while as wildly fun as those titles are a
part of me craved an ultimate hockey simulator experience. Then in comes EA
Sports NHL 2003 for the Xbox and die-hard fans of ice hockey will agree that
we’ll have one more thing to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.

There are some really
great game modes available to test your skills: Franchise, Playoffs and
International. The Playoffs mode puts your team straight into the playoff while
skipping the entire season altogether. You set the rules and series length and
take your team to victory or defeat. Meanwhile International mode pits country
against country on a tournament to win the international championship cup.

While the Franchise mode
is not completely in-depth, what is featured here is still a real treat. You
control almost every aspect of your team’s strategy including the roster,
trades, task list and rules and settings. You can retire players and sign on
fresh talent, but beware, the game realistically challenges your decisions by
adding personality to players you want to sign on for the season (some players
don’t like your team while others might be more than happy to be signed on).

The Playoffs mode puts
your team straight into the playoff while skipping the entire season
altogether. You set the rules and series length and take your team to victory
or defeat. Meanwhile International mode pits country against country on a
tournament to win the international championship cup. You can even create a
player and add him to your favorite national or international team.

This year’s game
introduces loads of fancy new moves and a much tighter control scheme for a more
complete game. For starters, there’s a function called the Dynamic Deke Control
that allows you to execute one of eight dekes or you can just create your own
dekes using the right thumbstick. Find yourself in the opponent’s zone on your
own and the game will trigger a Game Breaker where everything slows down to a
nerve-wracking moment before you make a shot to the goal.

The other basic moves such
as passing poke and body checks and big hit work perfectly with the faster pace
and fluid gameplay. You can also see the conditions of your teammates just by
the icons by their names. A red cross means a player is too injured to go on
playing while a thought bubble with a Z in it means the player is too tired and
should be pulled out.

Computer-controlled
opponents are a lot tougher to beat this time around as well and make
intelligent defensive and offensive decisions. For one thing and this really
depends on the team you’re playing, the opposing team can tighten their defense
when you hard hitting star player are on the ice. Some teams even adapt to your
playing style, making them difficult to beat. Yet as smart as they are, they
are still prone to making all the same mistakes you can.

The graphics are not only
sharp as a knife, but also high in detail when it comes to the players’ physical
features, arena decor and even ice smoothness. The arenas are something to
admire since they’re full of highly detailed fans (many of them who jump up or
pump their fists in the air) and the ice looks so smooth that you can trace the
lines left behind by the skates. Each player is neatly rendered as well and
with great facial features, you’ll recognize your favorites. My only complaint
is that body movement during animations can look a bit mechanical and sometimes
victory animations become too repetitive.

As highly detailed as the
graphics are, the sound can also boast the same thing. There are enough sound
effects in this game to make this a realistic experience rather than a televised
one. You can distinctly hear the skates cutting through the ice, the sticks
striking against your opponent’s stick and the puck being slammed across the
ice. The two-man commentator team is also outstanding and they call them like
they see them--a really nice touch. And, of course, there is some great rock
tunes featured here by Jimmy Eat World to Papa Roach.

Hockey fans, you don’t
have to look any further for that intense yet realistic hockey game because NHL
2003 has all the goods and then some. Not only does it play like a dream come
true but the sharp visuals, near perfect sound and entertaining multiplayer
option makes this a new fan favorite.

#Reviewer's
Scoring Details

Gameplay: 8.6The controls are both tight and
responsive with the option to customize the game any way you want it. You can
slow down the game or speed it up depending on your experience. The action
is both fluid and intense just the way hockey fans like it.

Players can also get into
fistfights with your choice of offering an opponent a jab or a solid uppercut
that will send him down on the ice. Of course, fights spell ejections but
what’s hockey without a good brawl?

Graphics: 8.7The graphics are definitely fitting
of the Xbox with crisp graphics and plenty of details to fall in love with.
Each arena is packed and alive with fans that stand up when their favorite team
makes a goal or they clap their hands in synch while cheering on their team or
calling for defense.

And the player models are
fantastic when it comes to their facial features and their jerseys, although
sometimes the movements can appear a bit stiff and awkward. The animations are
various and truly impressive but there are times when you’ll be seeing the same
animation over and over again.

Sound: 9.1The sound is just the best heard in
a sports game with a play-by-play commentary by Jim Hughson that’s spot-on and
never repetitive. And while the color commentary by Don Taylor is both
funny and informative, there are times when his colorful jokes become way too
annoying to continue listening to (thank you, EA Sports, for including an option
to turn off the color commentary).

Yet the best part of the
sound is the detailed sound effects of the crowds going nuts when a goal is made
or the sounds of the other players on the bench to the blades scraping the ice.
And to keep you company, there are some great tunes from Queen of the Stone Age
to Gob and Default.

Difficulty: MediumPlayers are a lot smarter this time
around and even the goalie AI puts up a real challenge with some great saves.
There are four difficulty settings to choose from--Beginner, Easy, Medium and
Difficult. Choosing the Beginner setting obviously changes the
computer-controlled opponent response but the commentators will also offer
advice throughout the game.

Concept: 8.9The realism factor accurately
capture the game quite well and because of the Dynamic Deke Control functions
and the Game Breaker feature, the game just feels more complete. There’s also
the NHL Cards feature that offers plenty of extras such as cheats and the option
to unlock members of bands featured in the soundtrack as playable characters.

Multiplayer: 9.0This is definitely the type of game
to play with a group of friends and thanks to all the great modes, you can chose
to be a favorite national team or even an international one. And the best part
is that up to four players can play. You can pair off and see which team makes
it to the championships. It really doesn’t get any better than this.

Overall: 9.0EA Sports has done it again, NHL
2003 is an over-the-top hockey experience that will surely be a sports
favorite. Hockey fans don’t have to look any further since you can’t really go
wrong with this one. A recommended Must-Buy.